My love for Golden Retrievers started when I was young. One day, around age 7, I saw a movie (Homeward Bound) with this beautiful, fluffy, smiley dog traveling through the mountains with a cat and some goofy-looking white dog with black splotches like a cow. This unlikely trio was trying to get back home after getting lost from their family. Shadow, the fluffy dog, led the pack with so much determination to get to his owner, who wasn’t much older than me. There was nothing that would keep him from his beloved kid, and he remained loyal even when Sassy (the cat) and Chance (the white American Bulldog) made the journey longer and harder. However, when they got close to home, Shadow fell into a deep, muddy hole and couldn’t get out, no matter how many times he tried. He told the others to leave him behind, that he was too old to make it, and he sank his mud-stained, weary head to the ground as they reluctantly left him. I was devastated. 

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          Golden Retrievers are like rays of sunshine brought to life in fur form. They spread their love like they spread their hair everywhere. There’s a reason they are one of the most popular breeds (they ranked #3 in 2023 according to The American Kennel Club). These dogs are known to be gentle and playful with children and thrive in social environments (“Golden Retriever Dog Breed - Facts and Traits | Hill's Pet”). This, on top of their eagerness to please, has made them popular to train as service dogs. It’s easy to train a dog who finds joy in making others happy. Well, and food. They love food. These dogs love to be active and to work. This could mean hunting, being a service dog, or even getting the mail for their owners. Don’t expect them to protect your house, though. They lack guard instincts, which makes them terrible watchdogs. They would probably think an intruder is just a new friend to play fetch with. 
 

          The history of this breed goes back to 19th-century Scotland, where these dogs were bred to help their owners recover game birds from hunts. The breed was created in Scotland by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks. He cross-bred Flat-coated Retrievers with Tweed Water Spaniels, with some further infusions of Red Setter, Labrador Retriever, and Bloodhound (Coile). This combination led to a medium-sized dog with various shades of red, yellow, cream, and golden blond hair with hunting and retrieving instincts as well as a love for swimming. The breed increased in popularity after World War I and has steadily risen in demand through present day. 
 

          A rise in popularity comes with repercussions, though. Due to an increase in demand, and frankly, greedy breeders, Golden Retrievers have developed significant health issues. Dr. Sabrina Kong, D.V.M., a veterinary advisor at We Love Doodles, an educational website about dogs, says that goldens are generally healthy dogs, but due to “unethical breeding,” they have “developed more risks of illnesses and afflictions like hip dysplasia, skin irritation and allergies, ear infections, hypothyroidism, cataracts and bloating” (Smith). They also have a higher chance of getting cancer than other breeds. Just like many other instances in life: this is why we can’t have nice things! It’s incredibly sad to watch these sweethearts suffer due to money-grubbing backyard breeders. 

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          Despite the knowledge of the issues Golden Retrievers have faced as of late, I still wanted to fulfill my dream of owning one. This dream was finally realized in 2019 when I convinced my husband to let me get a puppy. He says he had no choice, that I was going to get one regardless of his opinion, and he’s probably right. We picked her out of a litter of 7 puppies because she came right up to us and started chewing our shoelaces. Analah has been the greatest addition to our lives. I honestly can’t imagine life without her, and I irrationally tear up at times at the thought of ever losing her. The pure joy she exudes just from seeing us when we all wake up in the morning can fix any bad mood, scary dream, Monday blues, etc. I want to look at the world through her eyes. Everything and everyone is exciting and a potential toy or friend. Well, except for the vacuum, floor vents, trash cans, balloons, falling papers…ok, she’s scared of lots of random things. Despite all of her fears, she loves life and has had a pretty good one so far.

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          One day, I asked my husband about any ideas or key memories about her that stand out. I expected some sweet moment they had together, but he brought up the time she broke one of her toes at 6 months old, which led to her needing to wear a huge green cast on her leg until it healed. We laughed at the memory of the sound of her thunk thunk thunking through the house as she moved around in this new reality thrown at her. She didn’t miss a beat. She continued to be her goofy and energetic self, greeting everyone and running around the backyard with her ears flapping in the wind and tongue hanging out the side of her mouth. She never cried a single time through this ordeal, and gave no indication of feeling sick or sad, not even when we realized the vet put the cast on too tight and it dug into skin, causing an infection and her flesh to literally rot and die. You’d never have known, though. Despite all the adversity and suffering she went through, she persevered and showed delight in everything around her. I envy her ability to stay that positive.

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          In case you’ve never seen Homeward Bound, you’ll be happy to know that 7-year-old me did not stay devastated for too long. Wonderful and loyal Shadow thought about his human and how he needed to be there for him, and finally found the strength to climb out of that hole. The sight of him limping towards the house and his boy running to meet him and hug him still brings tears to my eyes. I knew then that I had to have my own Shadow someday. Analah has more than filled that role.

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          Earlier in the movie, Shadow speaks to Chance about having a responsibility to their humans, to love and to protect them. He says that this responsibility is “built in. Has been ever since the dawn of time...when a few wild dogs took it upon themselves to watch over man, to bark when he's in danger, to run and play with him when he's happy, to nuzzle him when he's lonely. That's why they call [dogs] man's best friend” (“Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) - Quotes”). Humans can learn so much from dogs. We should be watching over them, protecting them, nuzzling them. Instead, we overbreed, overwork, mistreat, take for granted, and fail to protect. Maybe if everyone could encounter a Golden and radiate the same kindness and warmth that they display, the world would be a better, more loving place.

I give Golden Retrievers 5 stars.

Works Cited
 

Coile, Caroline. “Golden Retriever dog | Description & Facts.” Britannica, 9 November 2023, https://www.britannica.com/animal/golden-retriever-dog. Accessed 3 December 2023.
 

“Common Golden Retriever Health Problems.” Purina, https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/dogs/health/symptoms/golden-retriever-health-problems. Accessed 4 December 2023.
 

“Golden Retriever Dog Breed - Facts and Traits | Hill's Pet.” Hill's Pet Nutrition, https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/dog-breeds/golden-retriever?lightboxfired=true#. Accessed 3 December 2023.
 

“Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) - Quotes.” IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107131/quotes/?item=qt0474713. Accessed 3 December 2023.
 

Smith, Kelly Anne. “The Most Common Health Issues With Golden Retrievers – Forbes Advisor.” Forbes, 29 March 2023, https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-care/golden-retriever-common-health-issues/. Accessed 3 December 2023.

Kristyn Diggins is an English teacher with 14 years of experience. When she's not in the classroom, she can be found running, reading, or traveling with her husband, son, and golden retriever, Analah—the subject of her essay and a constant source of joy. Kristyn believes in the lessons we learn from the world around us, especially from those who love unconditionally.